At a time when the game of cricket, like many other sports, is struggling to attract youngsters, the last thing needed was one of the leading players in the world to be caught cheating in an attempt to gain advantage in a test match.

North East and The Highlands Scottish Sport Fund applications are now open in your area! You have until Monday 30th April to get your entry forms in. Please see link below for details https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund

Clubs are reminded to return the form for the 2018 Handbook details ASAP to David Jones (jonesACA1@aol.com) and cc’ed to both Tariq Butt buttclan@hotmail.com) and Ian Stephen (ian.c.stephen@aberdeenshire.gov.uk) before the deadline date of 31-03-18, The form can be found in the “Contents” section under the “Downloads” section found on the left-hand side of the Grades WEB site or click here. Many thanks to Clubs that have already returned their form.

Just another reminder about the Club Forum (24th March) and Coaches Forum (25th March) coming up next weekend.These are great opportunities to learn from leaders in their respect fields, share best practice and network. They are free for Cricket Scotland member clubs so I encourage you take advantage of the opportunity.Please feel free to share with your networks as well. Links below to the registration process.

The new season may yet be two months away, but already there is a spring in the step of those who run the game at both the local level and the ruling body in Edinburgh where Cricket Scotland is proving to be a willing ally of all that goes on in the sport in the Aberdeen area.

Attached, is the first draft of the league fixtures for 2018 [2018 Fixture Draft]. The cup draws have also been made – initial and reserve dates for these will be notified following notification by Cricket Scotland of the dates for national competitions.

Club representatives attending the Captains Meeting and the Spring Meeting are advised to leave plenty of time to find parking as Aberdeen are playing Celtic at 13:30 and therefore it is envisaged that parking will be challenging. Please note that the “CONSTITUTION of the North East Scotland Cricket SCIO” document is now attached to the notification below.

The fixtures are now being compiled for the 2018 season, therefore clubs are reminded to urgently advise David Jones (ACA Secretary - jonesaca1@aol.com) of any dates that your ground may be unavailable during the season. Our thanks to the clubs that have already responded.

Please find attached copies of the relevant ACA Annual Spring Meeting papers and a Map of the venue As previously intimated, the Spring General Meeting of the Association, preceded by a meeting for Club representatives and team captains, will take place in Room C11, Taylor Building, University of Aberdeen, on Sunday February 25th 2018 at 2:00pm. Please note the changed time and location for this meeting.NB The Team Captains meeting will start at 2:00pm with the main Spring Meeting with Club Secretaries/Representatives at 3:00pm

The AGM of the Aberdeen City/Shire Cricket Development Group will take place at Countesswells (the home of Gordonians CC) on Wednesday 7th February 2018 from 1830-20:00hours. The agenda and associated papers are now attached.Clubs within the Grades family are invited to send along representatives to learn about ongoing activities and help shape the immediate future in the age-group cricket space.

You will recall that at the ACA 2017 AGM it was agreed that a meeting would be arranged with Club representatives to discuss the composition of Grades 2 & 3 for the 2018 season and beyond. The meeting will take place on Sunday 28th January starting 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Aberdeenshire Cricket Club (Mannofield) in the Bradman Suite. Clubs are invited to send ONE representative. If any club representative is not able to attend please feel free to put your club thoughts to Ben Webb (Ben.Webb@score-group.com) as he will be chairing the meeting.

Thistle Sports have some boxes of the Grade Cricket Balls left over from last seasons stock and are selling each remaining box at a discounted rate of £100 per Box of six on a first come first serve basis.

The 2 x T20 Scotland v Pakistan are still available. Dates are Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th June 2018 - See Link https://www.ticketline.co.uk/cricket-scotland#bio

We are pleased to announce that the ACA grades have secured 50 tickets for the Scotland v England match. Our thanks to all those who responded. Please find below update from Paul Macari

Please note the Public ticket sale is now live. We have sold over 600 tickets in the first couple of hours and the link to the site is https://www.ticketline.co.uk/cricket-scotlandIt is also available from the website shop. Please share this as appropriate. Best regardsPaul MacariCommercial ManagerW: 0131 313 7423 M: 07808 541982National Cricket Academy, Ravelston, Edinburgh EH4 3NT

*************************************************************************************************************************Bill Stables of Aberdeen Lads Club passed away on 24th July 2017, Big Bill as he was known due in part to his height but also because his father Old Bill and son Young Bill also played for the club. Bill a stalwart of the Lads club played all his cricket at the club as a powerful middle order batsman and challenging opening bowler he also captained the side for many years. Our sincere condolences to Bill’s family and friends. *************************************************************************************************************************

As previously intimated, notice given that the Annual General Meeting of the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association for 2017 will be held at CURL ABERDEEN, Eday Walk, Aberdeen AB15 6LNon Sunday 3rd December 2017 at 3:00pm. Please find attached the relevant documents. Clubs are reminded that clubs unrepresented at the Meeting without reasonable cause, of which the Management Committee is the sole judge, will be liable to a deduction of 15 league points from each of their teams in the 2018 season

This is just a reminder to register for the `Junior Cricket Roadshow` on Tuesday 28th November at Mannofield, 6:30pm start.So far only Aberdeenshire have registered!This is an important meeting as we outline plans for All Stars 2018 but also the new Junior Pathway and Formats that will impact on you all.Link below to register and please feel free to bring as many people from your club as you want.https://goo.gl/forms/gOiCg5GyCPKyau1J3CheersIan SandbrookCricket Scotland Head of Participationt: 0131 313 7426 m: 07584232795e: iansandbrook@cricketscotland.com

*************************************************************************************************************************The death of one of the most loved, and respected players in the ACA Grades has come as great shock to all those who knew Malcolm Allanach (77) of Ellon Gordon who passed away peacefully last week at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.Malcolm's love of cricket at both club and international level was well known with those who associated with the Gordon Park club.

ONLY CUP MATCHES TO BE TEXTED TO THIS HOTLINE NUMBER (including Photo of Score Books or Photo emailed to acagradess@gmail.com). All Other results must be entered into CricketStats by 8.15pm on the day of the match concerned. The Format used should be "1st team batting total with overs, top two batsman, top two bowlers, 2nd team batting total with overs, top two batsman, top two bowlers"s